International Standards: Global Standards For Recycled Plastics

With the goal of using recycled plastics according to the proportion of plastic products in the world, it can be predicted that the demand for recycled plastics will continue to grow in the next few years. Although China has not put forward a clear target for the proportion of use, the goal of China has begun to take shape under the general trend of global plastics Convention and carbon neutral target of CO2 emission peak.

China is a big producer of plastic products in the world, and its production and sales volume rank first in the world. In 2020, the output of plastic products will account for about 20% of the world's total output. According to the targets promised by various countries in the world plastics convention, the number of primary plastics is reduced, and the recycled plastics are used proportionally and gradually increased. In this huge plastic product market in China, the proportion of recycled plastics continues to expand.

The use of recycled plastics in the world, the national standards of disposable plastics are restricted

01. USA

The American Chemical Society (ACS) has proposed to the U.S. Congress that 30% of recycled waste must be used for packaging.

On July 13, 2021, the American Chemical Society issued five action plans, which suggested that the United States Congress should take measures to improve the plastic recovery rate.

Its first project, through the national recycled plastics standard, calls for a federal standard that requires all plastic packaging to use at least 30% of recycled materials by 2030.

The association called for the development of a national plastics recycling standard in the United States, a better recycling system across the United States, and a full life cycle analysis of all materials (to ensure that standards are not based on ideology, but based on data and Science) "

02. EU

By 2030, some beverage bottles will contain at least 30% recycled plastic

In 2019, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union (EU 2019 / 904) clearly pointed out that by 2025, the proportion of recycled plastics in some PET containers of Member States would be more than 25%. By 2030, some beverage bottles will contain at least 30% recycled plastic.

The EU intends to amend the ELV directive, which sets out rules on the dismantling and recycling of vehicles that are not suitable for driving. The European Commission said in 2022 that it would submit a revised version of the directive and that the reform would be part of the circular economy action plan proposed in March last year.

The European Federation of recycling industries (euric) has called for binding targets for thermoplastic plastics (polymers that can be continuously melted and recast) consumed by new vehicles, reaching 25% by 2025, 30% by 2030 and 35% by 2035

03, Australia

By 2025, plastic packaging will contain 20% recycled materials

The Australian directive on reducing the impact of specific plastic products on the environment sets the goal of plastic packaging that by 2025, 50% of recycled materials will be included in all packaging, of which plastic packaging contains 20% of recycled materials.

The goal of "banning the export of waste plastics, paper, glass and tires from the second half of 2020" mentioned in the National Plastics plan 2021 is to lay the foundation for providing sufficient recycled materials, wastes and raw materials for the country.

04. Japan

100% effective utilization of waste plastics by 2035

In 2019, Japan's Ministry of environment, through an expert group under the central environmental Commission, formulated the final version of its plastic recycling strategy, which calls for a 25% reduction in disposable plastic containers and packaging by 2030, and a mandatory charge for shopping bags. In addition, the strategy calls for the reuse and recovery rate of plastic containers and packaging to rise to about 60% by 2030, and to achieve 100% effective utilization of all used plastics, including heat recovery, by 2035.

05. UK

Levy plastic packaging tax: when the recycled materials are less than 30%, tax should be paid

On November 12, 2020, British tax and Customs announced the draft of plastic packaging tax. The new tax applies to plastic packages produced or imported in the UK, which must contain at least 30% recycled plastic. It will be implemented from April 1, 2022.

The UK tax and customs said the new tax was transferred from landfills and incinerators to stimulate the level of recycling and collection of plastic waste.

The main contents of packaging tax are as follows:

Less than 1,30% of recycled plastic packaging duty rate is 200 per ton; 2. Enterprises that produce and / or import less than 10 tons of plastic packaging within 12 months will be exempted. 3. The tax range can be determined by defining the types of taxable products and reusable contents. 4. Exemption for a small number of producers and importers of plastic packaging; 5. Who is responsible for paying taxes needs to be registered with HMRC; 6. How to collect, recover and implement tax revenue.

06. India

By 2030, the average recycling content of all plastic packaging will be 25%

2030 target action - make a list of disposable plastics, 100% of plastic packaging can be reused or recycled; 50% of the recycled plastic packaging was effective; The average recovery of all plastic packaging is 25%.

At present, 27 Indian enterprises and organizations have participated in the consultation as founding members. This includes major express brands, manufacturers, retailers and recyclers.

07. Korea

By 2025, South Korea will increase the recycling rate of plastic waste from 54% now to 70%. In December 2020, South Korea plans to reduce plastic waste by reducing the production of plastic products and increasing the recovery rate. By 2025, South Korea plans to reduce plastic waste by 20% and increase the recycling rate of waste plastics from the current 54% to 70%.

South Korea's environment ministry said it would gradually reduce the use of plastics from the production stage, reuse the used domestic plastic waste as raw materials, or extract oil to improve the recycling rate of plastic products.

South Korea's environment ministry also announced that by 2030, all enterprises will completely ban the use of disposable plastic bags. In addition, greenhouse gas emissions from plastics will be reduced by 30% by 2030. In addition, South Korea will ban the import of plastic waste from abroad from 2022.

08. Canada

By 2025, 30% recycled materials will be used in all plastic packaging

The Convention on plastics hopes that by 2025, all partners will be able to achieve the following goals: identifying defective or unwanted plastic packaging and taking measures to dispose of them; How to realize 100% reuse, recycling and composting of plastic packaging; How to realize the recycling or composting of 50% plastic packaging; Achieve 30% recycled materials for all plastic packaging.

09. Global conventions

By 2025, 4% to 22% of recycled plastics will be used in packaging by packaging users and retail signature agencies

In 2020, the world's well-known enterprises signed the Allen MacArthur Foundation's Convention on plastics in India, promising to increase the use of recycled plastics in packaging from 4% to 22% by 2025, an increase of more than five times. By 2025, the total annual demand for recycled materials in packaging will exceed 5 million tons.

10. China

In addition, it has also been strengthening the regulation of plastic pollution in China.

In January 2020, the use of non degradable plastic bags, disposable plastic tableware and express plastic packaging will be officially prohibited and restricted. According to the principle of "one-time regulation, substitution cycle and one-time control", the new regulation order is divided into three steps to clearly define the phased task objectives of strengthening plastic pollution control.

It can be seen from the control standards of these countries that Australia forbids the export of waste plastics and South Korea forbids the import of waste plastics. It can be seen that these countries have created conditions for their own recycling of plastics industry chain, but the growth of recycled plastics market in all countries is an inevitable trend whether it is import or export.